Pound for pound challenge to encourage people to lose weight, fight hunger
Published 9:53 am Friday, December 24, 2010
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — This winter season, people who want to lose weight will have an extra step of motivation.
The third-annual Pound for Pound Challenge will allow people from across the country to pledge their weight-loss goals and help provide funding to their local food banks through Feeding America.
The Huntington Area Food Bank (HAFB) invites Tri-State residents to pledge pounds on www.pfpchallenge.com. The goal of the program is to rally the community to take the challenge and help serve hungry people locally.
For each pound pledged for the HAFB, 11 cents will go toward helping hungry people in need in 17 counties in West Virginia, Southeastern Ohio and Northeastern Kentucky. The program will be showcased on “The Biggest Loser” television show on NBC; furthermore, it will allow participants to track their weight-loss goals along with the show’s contestants.
“We wanted to participate in the Pound for Pound Challenge again because it’s such a great tool to expose hunger issues nationally, and it helps us locally,” said Leigh Anne Zappin, HAFB executive director.
“Feeding America will collect the donations based on how many pounds people pledge. Then, the funds will come to us. This is a good way for people to get healthy or maintain their weight and help us out at the same time. We encourage everyone to get involved.”
Tri-State residents can pledge individually to help the HAFB or create their own challenge teams. The challenge team feature allows people to create and compete with others within a group.
For example, employees of a company can take the challenge together, and their poundage will add to the grand total. Other examples include families, sport teams, schools, etc.
Challenge champions can also further the campaign and can include local media, celebrities, politicians and other high-profile individuals.
The Pound for Pound Challenge ends May 31, 2011, and Feeding America will donate a maximum of $1,040,000 in total funds during the challenge.
For more information about the Pound for Pound Challenge or to pledge pounds, visit pfpchallenge.com. If you are interested in becoming a Challenge Champion or want to create your own Challenge Team, contact Kaylin Adkins at 304-523-6029 or at kaylin@hafb.org.